The most important moment in a man’s life is the first time they have a beer. I place it on the list above sex and having a child because sex usually only happens as a direct result of drinking beer. As for having children, I’m given to understand they are poop factories at first, then promptly become loud, and then obnoxious before they resent you for the next fifteen years. If my math is right, it isn’t until after about twenty-five years that you can stand them and the investment starts paying off. Given the instant gratification of beer verses the ROI on child rearing, its not even a close. But the real clincher is that men love solving problems and there is no chance of solving problems if you don’t create them first.
As Cyclists, beer also forms an important part of our training regimen; after a day of crushing our opponents and laying down enormous helpings of The V, it is critical that we give our muscles the rest and nutrients they require in order to rebuild and become ever stronger. Required nutrients include things like carbohydrates, sugars, and proteins. As it happens, beer is made of things like – wait for it – carbohydrates, sugars, and proteins. According to alcoholic nutritionists I’ve spoken to as well as some recent studies, beer taken in moderation is the ideal recovery beverage after a hard workout.
But there’s that annoying word again, “moderation” – always with the moderation, these scientists. Apparently, you can’t go and get hammered every time you ride a bike or the alcohol will have other effects like making you fat, stupid, and bloated. Alcohol slows your metabolism and lowers your impulse control, which forms a double-whammy as after you get drunk and stuff your face, your body will have a harder time burning those extra calories.
When I started getting serious about losing weight and improving my climbing (this was immediately after my first ride up Haleakala), I completely ignored the possibility of giving up on booze as I’d much rather starve myself than stop drinking. But the fact is that dieting and training only yielded limited results. When I finally accepted the notion of reducing my alcohol intake, my weight started to drop and my riding immediately improved. The most surprising side effect was how much better my sleeping patterns became which also feeds into post-ride recovery.
I’ll never give up beer completely because I’d hate to be without problems to solve, but for anyone who is struggling to lose weight, take note: diet and exercise are key elements, but you won’t get there without taking a hard look at your alcohol consumption. I’m not suggesting you stop drinking altogether; drink a beer or two after riding to help your recovery, but beyond that alcohol will get in the way of reaching your goals. Unless your goal is to drink more, in which case I remind you that your liver is the only organ that can regenerate itself.
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@KW
Hah, I like the way you couldn't think of anything to respond with on another thread, but saved it up to drop here. Elegantly done.
PeakInTwoYears has humour on his side, though, of course.
Really, though, how about some perspective, finally.
The people of the United States of America thoroughly fucked up AN ENTIRE CONTINENT while drinking a pint of whiskey per person per day. Plus hard cider, plus beer or wine when they could get it.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Alcoholic-Republic-American-Tradition/dp/0195029909
And the Royal Navy in the Napoleonic era?
Pull yourselves together, people.
This tavern in T dot ought attract a few Velominati
Until the Gin act of 1751 London was said to have one Gin shop for every 120 citizens. By 1743 the labouring poor of England were consuming 8 million gallons of Gin per year. (Source The Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes).
Though the total population in 1750 was about 6 million so I guess 8 million gallons over the whole population might not sound too bad but I don't know what number constituted "the labouring poor".
Overall, I find it very interesting that many of the people speaking up here are admitting to doing a lot of over-drinking. I'm curious what reaction this topic would have in other Cycling communities?
Is this a Cycling-wide tendency to over-indulge in booze or is it us obsession-prone Velominati who are also inclined to indulge in other areas outside of just Cycling.
Personally, I'm very aware of how obsessive my personality is; if I were to get into drugs it would be a bad thing. But nearly everything I do is done with a giant on/off switch - I either neglect something almost entirely or do it with full commitment.
@frank
I suspect that could have a common theme here. It certainly holds for me. Rugby, then Yacht Racing, then Skiing, current Cycling all pretty obsessively in turn. Beer seems to have been a common theme throughout though. However, like a number of comments, when you hit a certain age you do find you have a reduced tolerance (or at least reduced recovery ability) to alcohol. Not that I'd ever consider myself to have been an excessive drinker.
I don't drink beer. I drink good beer. If offered a Bud/Coors/Miller/etc, I politely respond that I don't drink, and take water. This saves the caloric warehouse space for a nice belgian or domestic craft brew. Also, craft beers are more satisfying and are around the same calories as piss beer, so you actually drink fewer and enjoy them more. Works for me.
If ever in Madison WI you must go to Karbon 4 Brewery. So good.
@fignons barber
Generally, I'm not a fan of "Beer" jerseys, but I'd wear that one.
@kixsand Chapeau. That is quite an undertaking.
I've found myself questioning my drinking on a number of occasions over the last few years. It was triggered by a mate finally accepting that he had a serious problem and that he would loose his family if he didn't quit. I wouldn't put myself in that bracket by any measure but it make me take a good look at why I drink the way that I do.
At the end of the day I realised that my habits had already changed significantly before I started to question things - I'd already given up drinking during the week unless there was good cause to, proper celebrations and the like and drinking at the weekend had been cut back to one night at most. The bottom line was that whilst I really enjoy drinking, whether it be a a good wine with diner or getting utterly wankered on sambuca and absinthe with some mates at a bbq, it wasn't the driving force that it had been.
I don't know how much of that has to do with the onset or age but i certainly do find that any sort of drinking beyond a single glass of wine with diner can be felt for days afterwards on the bike. That's a good thing, drinking rarely even gets considered when I'm riding a lot.